The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-05
PLEADING WITH THE BOARD.
Southern Lines Request a Liberal In
depreciation of the Interstate Law,
And Endeayor to Show that Strict Con-
struction Will Result in Bankruptcy-An
Old Project Revived-Railway Notes.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-The Interstate COM
merce Commission has, this morning, promul-
gated the following rule of proceeding:
Applications made for the official action of the COM
mis- sion shall be made by petition, which shall set
forth the facts on which they are founded and be
verified by the oath of the applicant or of some
authorized agent or attorney.
Senator Doph presented to the commission
memorial from the Board of Trade at Walla-
walla, in relation to high charges. The me-
nloras is prayfor relief in time to this years
crop from exorbitant freight charges. He also
presented memorial from the Board Of Trade
of Portland, Ore, in relation to the long-and-
short-haul feature The memorialists set forth
the advantages which Portland has enjoyed
compared with interior points by means of her
position upon the coast. The water lines, they
cay, have fixed the rates, and the rail lines have
followed closely enough to prevent
exclusion from the traffic. The Cana
dian Pacific, they further represent, built
and supported by the British government for
che purpose of holding and extending British
commerce, to the detriment of American inter
ssts. is another element of the question. The
memoria.ists cay they are not assured that the
true meaning Of the law is such as to forbid the
making of rates to coast points in competition
with those of the water carriers and the Cana
dian Pacific; yet, if the commission SO interprets
the law, they ask the prompt use of the dispens.
ing power.
Congressman Butterworth, of Ohio, appeared
with several gentlemen representing the river
interests, and asked, in their behalf an oppor-
tunity to be heard in relation to the matters
presented by the representatives of the South
ern Railway and Steamship Association on Sat
urday. They were given copies of such docu-
ments as were filed by the railroad men. and
Withdrew to consider what steps they would
lake.
Messrs. W. H. Ross, Fl. D. johnson, S. Waixel-
Lum and ]. F. Hanson. a committee represent
Ing the Chamber Of Commerce of Macon, Ga,
we're accorded hearing upon the subject
brought up by the Atlanta board and the South
ern railroad men on Saturday. They submitted
an elaborate written argument in support of the
position for the suspension of the operation Of
the long. land -short-haul clause. 1t embodied
schedules showing that after the law goes into
effect the rates between Macon and Northern
points will be increased from Is to 80 per cent.
The more sparsely settled condition of tn South,
and its deficiencies in many respects, COIN
pared with the manufacturing centers of the
North and East, were fully set forth as matters
which made the conditions substantially differ
emit from those which prevail between the East
and West, and which justify the Intervention of
the commission. The declaration was made
that If the Interpretation now threatened had
been foreseen when the bill was under consider
alton, the South would have opposed the meas
ure unanimously
The following letter. written by instruction of
the commission, explains itself:
G. c. Cheney, ESQ.,. General superintendent Canadian
Express Company Montreal.
Dear Sir-Your letter of the LIST inst requesting
the decision of the commission upon the question
whether the interstate-commerce law applies ex-
press companies has been laid before the commission
and duly considered Ii any express company desires
to be heard by the commission the question you
raise, early opportunity will be offered for the
purposes but until such hearing is applied for, the
commission will assume that the law does apply to
such companies. Very respectfully yours,
T. M. COOLEY, Chairman.
Tho afternoon session of the Interstate COM
merce Commission was almost entirely given
over to reading letters Four of the commits
eoners visited the rooms offered to them for per.
manent quarters in the new National theatre
building. decision on this subject will be
rather in favor of the two floors in the recently
completed Baltimore Sun building, on F. street.
Late in the afternoon Mr. E. l.. Russell the
attorney If the Mobile e. Ohio railroad which
runs between Mobile and ST. Louis, submitted a
petition praying that it be permitted to charge
Its present rates between non-competitive points
and asking authority to fix its through rates
where competition existed with other railroad
and water routes. The reason assigned for the
granting of the requests is that the present re-
ceipts are barely sufficient to pay the fixed
charges of the road, and that any reduction OF
revenue would mean the companys bankruptcy.
Nr. Russell asked that he be given hearing or
the subject OF the petition on Wednesday after
noon, and his request was granted.
The commission then privately discussed I'M
Important matters relative to clerical assistance
Ic trVda nnd hat ~
named within the next two or three days.
There is probability that Chairman Cooley
may 90 to Chicago during the week to formally
transfer to his successor the documents book.
and funds pertaining to the receivership of the
Wabash railroad system. Commissioner Schoon
maker believes that he may have to go to New
York to disembarrass himself of professional
business. The commission will continue to hole
Its sessions, however, as three form a quorum
In conversation with a reporter this afternoon
Judge Schoonmaker said he thought that out-of
town visits of the commission would soon become
necessary. 1t was his opinion that these jour
neys would be undertaken by but one or two
commissioners. acting as committee, to heal
and take evidence. ETC. He thought it unlikely
that all would make long journeys together, a.
this course would be cumbersome method O.
obtaining information.
An Important Link to Be Constructed.
PHILADELPHIA, April 1.-The official an
nouncernent is made that preliminary contrac
has been executed between the Louisville &
Nashville and Nolfolk & Western Railroad Com
papies, by the terms of which each company un
dertakes to promptly cause surveys to be made
with a view to construct an extension of it's line
to a point of connection in Wise county, Viz
ginia. The extension of the Louisville & Nash
vile railroad will be from Corbin station, on it
present Knoxville branch, through the Cumber
land valley Of Kentucky, and the extension O
the Norfolk & Western railroad will be fror
Graham station, on its New river division
through the Clinch valley of Virginia. The tota
length OF line to be constructed is abou
200 miles, Ind the meeting point wi
be east of the Cumberland mountains in Wis
county, Virginia, each company will hav
about one hundred miles to construct. The wor
VIII be pushed to completion as rapidly as pos
sioie. Engineers have been engaged for severa
months past in the location of the line and tn
Louisville d Nashville Railroad Company ha
Already thirty-fve miles of its portion of tn
work under contract and to be completed durin
the month or August of the present year 1t
expected that the entire line will be complete
aud the connection made within the next tweiy
months. 1t Is not intended that the opening c
the new lines shall in any way interfere wit
existing arrangements for the interchange {
traffic between the Louisville & Nashville raj
road and Its present eastern or northern 90,
nections, or between the Norfolk & Wester
railroad and its southwestern connections hr
1t Is expected that the construction of the ne
line will result in much additional new busine,
to both companies.